'''Rhapis excelsa''' (Greek rhapis, meaning "needle"; Latin excelsa, meaning "tall") also known as '''Broadleaf Lady Palm''' or '''Bamboo Palm''' is a [[species]] of fan palm (Corypheae) native to southern [[China]]. First collected by the [[Japan|Japanese]] for [[Tokugawa shogunate]] [[palaces]], [[Rhapis]] popularity spread to [[Europe]], and finally to [[America]] where its low [[light]] and humidity requirements make it a common feature in malls and offices.
R. excelsa grows up to 4 m. in height and 30 mm. in diameter in multi-stemmed clumps with glossy, palmate [[leaves]] divided into broad, ribbed segments. Leaf segments are single or few in young plants and increase to 12 in mature plants. Leaf ends are saw-toothed unlike most other palms, occurring on slender [[petioles]] ranging from 20 to 60 cm. in length. New foliage emerges from a fibrous sheath which remains attached to the base. As the plants age, the sheaths fall, revealing the [[bamboo]]-like trunks. This usually [[dioecious]] palm species produces a small [[inflorescence]] at the top of the plant with spirally-arranged, fleshy flowers containing three petals fused at the base. Ripe fruit are fleshy and white, though they more readily propagate via underground [[rhizome]] offshoots.
